Artificial blood can save patients' lives like real blood

US scientists develop artificial blood cells that can be stored in powder form and transmitted to patients who need urgent blood transfusions.

The team at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, USA, successfully tested animals in artificial cells that carry oxygen to tissue, CBS News reported on Dec. 5.

Micro-cells synthesize red blood cells, store and release oxygen gradually when circulating around the body. Researchers say artificial blood called ErythroMer can be dried, frozen and stored as a powder to be ready for use when needed.

Artificial blood has many potential uses in the future.(Photo: Wordpress).

At the size of 2% of human red blood cells, artificial blood cells can be stored at room temperature and mixed with water before use."Artificial blood can be stored in plastic bags for medical professionals to carry on an ambulance or backpack for at least a year. When needed, they just pour distilled water into the bag, mix well and You can get blood transfusions in place right away, " said Dr. Allan Doctor, head of the research team.

In mouse experiments, the team replaced a large amount of real blood with artificial blood. They found that artificial blood cells can hold oxygen and release it into tissues around the body and other cells. Another test showed that artificial blood could be used to revive an animal that was shocked by a 40% loss of blood in the body.

Patients with accidental injury may still survive but die on the way to the hospital due to blood loss. The loss of large amounts of blood causes the body tissues not to receive enough oxygen and begins to stop working. Artificial blood can help patients have more time to hold out before going to the hospital.

According to Dr. Doctor, artificial blood also helps bring alertness to traumatic patients in areas that are difficult to access or evacuate like soldiers on the battlefield. The research team said that if the clinical trial went smoothly, artificial blood could be widely used within the next 10 years.